NAME:

ESL / EFL RESOURCES Comparatives and Superlatives Practice

Comparatives and Superlatives

Adjectives are used to describe nouns. If two nouns are being compared to one another, we use
comparative adjectives. When comparing three or more nouns, we use superlative adjectives.

Adjective form Comparative form Superlative form

Only one syllable, ending

in E. Add -st: widest, finest, cut-
Add -r: wider, finer, cuter
est
Examples: wide, fine, cute

Only one syllable, with one

vowel and one consonant at Double the consonant, and Double the consonant, and
the end. add -er: hotter, bigger, fat- add -est: hottest, biggest,
ter fattest
Examples: hot, big, fat

Only one syllable, with more

than one vowel
or more than one consonant Add -er: lighter, neater, Add -est: lightest, neatest,
at the end. faster fastest

Examples: light, neat, fast

Two syllables, ending in Y.

Change y to i, then add
Change y to i, then add -er:
-est: happiest, silliest, lone-
Examples: happy, silly, happier, sillier, lonelier
liest
lonely

Two syllables or more, not

Use more before the Use most before the
ending in Y.
adjective: more modern, adjective: most modern,
more interesting, more most interesting, most
Examples: modern,
beautiful beautiful
interesting, beautiful

A. These adjectives don't follow the rules above. What are their comparative and
superlative forms?

good

bad

fun

Teach-This.com © 2020 Permission granted to reproduce for classroom use.

 COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES

ESL / EFL RESOURCES Comparatives and Superlatives Practice

B. Write the comparative and superlative forms of the adjectives below.

Adjective Comparative Superlative

cheap cheaper cheapest

beautiful more beautiful most beautiful

pretty

easy

big

light

heavy

fast

reliable

slow

new

dry

happy

old

nice

compact

tasty

bitter

advanced

suitable

warm

Teach-This.com © 2020 Permission granted to reproduce for classroom use.

 COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES

ESL / EFL RESOURCES Comparatives and Superlatives Practice

C. Complete the questions and answers with comparatives and superlatives.

1. A: What is the place you've ever been to? (interesting)

B: I've ever been to is .

2. A: What is building you've ever been in? (tall)

B: I've ever been in is .

3. A: Which is , the Sahara desert or the Gobi desert? (large)

B: The is .

4. A: Who is , Lady Gaga or Madonna? (famous)

B: is .

5. A: Which country has a population, China or India? (large)

B: has .

6. A: Which fruit has a smell, bananas or a durians? (strong)

B: have .

7. A: What is problem in the world today? (big)

B: The is .

8. A: Which is , Mount Everest or K2? (high)

B: is .

Teach-This.com © 2020 Permission granted to reproduce for classroom use.

 COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES

ESL / EFL RESOURCES Comparatives and Superlatives Practice

D. Which one do you prefer? Explain your answers using comparative sentences.

Which house would you choose and why?

A. B.

$300,000 $75,000

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

Which car is better and why?

A. B.

$50,000 $15,000

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

Which watch would you like to have and why?

A.  B. 

$400 $75

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

Teach-This.com © 2020 Permission granted to reproduce for classroom use.

 COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES

ESL / EFL RESOURCES Comparatives and Superlatives Practice

E. Use the prompts to write a conversation using comparatives and superlatives.

Two friends are at the shopping mall. One friend is looking to buy a new phone.

A: sees two phones and asks for their friend’s opinion on the colour

B: says which colour they prefer and why

A: sees three more phones and asks which one is the best

B: says which one is the best and why

A: prefers another one because it looks good

B: agrees, but says that it is more expensive

A: ________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

B: ________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

A: ________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

B: ________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

A: ________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

B: ________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

A: ________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

B: ________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

Teach-This.com © 2020 Permission granted to reproduce for classroom use.